ABOUT US

LEARN ABOUT FIRST CHURCH

WHAT WE BELIEVE

At First Church of God, we believe your best days are still in front of you. Whether you are joining us in person or online, we invite you to experience our services and be a part of the First Church family. The Bible says when you are planted in the house of the Lord, you will flourish. Get ready to step into a new level of your destiny!

WITNESS

Faith is the cornerstone of our church. It is part of every activity that we do, every meeting that we hold.

WORSHIP

Our worship is an outward expression of our inner relationship with God and sets the atmosphere to receive His Word. 

WORKS

Through meaningful ministry and volunteer work we show the Gospel - or Good News - of God’s love for all of of us. 

OUR MISSION

BUILDING A CITY OF REFUGE

Every service we recite the following:


We are building a city of refuge making ready a people prepared for the Lord. We do this through our witness, through our worship and through our works.


The end result will be we will stand before His throne fully matured in Jesus Christ. We know this will be because we have been faithful, we have been focused and we have been fruitful.


To this end we commit ourselves, we commit our lives and we commit our resources.

OUR STORY

A FEW PEOPLE MAKING A BIG IMPACT

One Monday evening in October - October 25, 1937 to be exact - a few saints met at the home of Brother and Sister Marvin Thompson to discuss the possibility of beginning a Church of God congregation on the east side of Columbus. These saints were, at that time, members of the Burnside Church of God on the west side, presently known as the Wayne Avenue Church of God.


Although the records are not conclusive, Marvin and Essie Thompson, Emma Bush, Mattie Jackson and Henrietta Viney were among those who felt "led of the Holy Spirit to begin a work on the east side."

PAVING THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

The first service was held on March 13, 1938. Since that faithful day, the First Church of God has worshipped at the following Columbus, Ohio locations:


562 St. Clair Avenue

487 North Champion Avenue

1206 Atcheson Street

115 Wilson Avenue



On Father's Day, Sunday, June 18, 2000 under the leadership of Bishop Timothy J. Clarke, the congregation took possession of 124 acres and began worshipping at "The City" on Refugee Road.While its history is long, First Church is not a stagnant church. We are a dynamic church committed to leadership in the community and the world, adapting technology to meet people where they bringing the good news of God's love and salvation.


OUR PURPOSE

THE PURPOSE OF FIRST CHURCH IS THREE FOLD

1. EXHALT CHRIST

We are called to elevate, praise the name of Jesus as the way to salvation because He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. (John 3:14-18; John 12:32; 1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

2. EVANGELIZE THE LOST

We are called to share the Word of God to the world. (Matthew 28:18-20)

3. EDIFY THE BODY

We are called as Believers to educate and serve through discovering and exercising of the spiritual gifts placed in us by the Holy Spirit of God.

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